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When a father left his running car outside an Indiana Family Dollar on Tuesday, two unknown suspects took the opportunity to drive off with his vehicle.

According to WISH, witnesses saw the men drive away in the 2008 Dodge Charger with the dad’s 4-year-old son inside.

But less than an hour later, the alleged thieves dropped the boy off at a nearby church day care.

Sister Grace Jackson Wright said the men left the child right outside Greater Morning Star Child Care Ministry, the day care she founded.

She’s unsure why the men chose to drop the child off there because it was a bit of a drive from the Family Dollar they stole the car from. Wright explained to WISH:

“You have to do some turning and twisting to drive here from Family Dollar. It’s an out-of-the-way area. This is not on a main street. For someone to just let a little child out of the car at a strange place — think about what could have happened.”

Authorities picked up the boy and eventually reunited him with his family. Though Wright didn’t know him, she said she’s been extremely emotional because the child could have been hurt.

She said:

“I’m having trouble keeping myself composed because I know what could have been. After you’ve worked with children as long as I have, you’ve seen so many things, but God was protecting that baby.”

Wright added that she hasn’t experienced anything like this in the 20 years that she’s worked there.

Thank God all went okay and this little boy is safe. A very scary lesson has been learned here at the expense of a child. I doubt it will ever happen again with dad. The thieves had some conscience in doing the right thing. Thank God for that as well.

Agree 100% on that Anon — 100%! What responsible parent would ever leave a 4-year-old in a running car, and go shop?? I don’t care how long he/she intends to be there! They absolutely do need to be taught a lesson.

Agree 100% on that Anon — 100%! What responsible parent would ever leave a 4-year-old in a running car, and go shop?? I don’t care how long he/she intends to be there! They absolutely do need to be taught a lesson.